Setting Message Actions (Scheduling Agreement Releases) 

Use

In order to be able to output scheduling agreement (SA) releases in the SAP APO system with the function Output SA Releases, you must make the appropriate settings in Customizing for the Advanced Planning and Optimization.

You use actions to control the creation and output of SA releases.

By using actions, you can separate these two processes from each other, so that you can check SA releases before they are output.

An action contains information, for example, which medium is to be used (for example, printer, fax, XML).

The action definition in the SAP APO system corresponds to the message type in the SAP R/3 system.

You can select these actions by selecting the Output of SA Releases function and process them so that a SA release is sent to your vendor as a result.

Prerequisites

When you are making the settings for messaging actions for the output of SA releases, choose the application /SAPAPO/SAR (scheduling agreement release).

Procedure

In Customizing for the Advanced Planning and Optimization (SAP APO) choose Supply Chain Planning ® Collaborative Procurement ® Define Actions for Messages to make the necessary settings for the application scheduling agreement release (/SAPAPO/SAR).

Output Type

You can make the following settings on the Action Definition tab page:

Processing Time

You can choose between the following processing time-spots:

●      Processing when document is saved

●      Processing via selection report

The time of processing Immediate processing has exactly the same effect as the time of processing Processing when document is saved, since the SA release must first be saved before it can be output.

In this way, you avoid a situation in which an SA release is dispatched unintentionally (for example, if, in Immediate processing, you exit the product view without saving).

The point in time at which the liveCache is updated should be in line with the processing time of the action definition.

You define when the liveCache is updated on the Scheduling Agreement  tab page in the external procurement relationship.

Partner Role (VN  = Vendor)

When you maintain a partner role, the role must correspond to the partner role of the external procurement relationship ( Partner tab page) so that actions can be created.

If you have maintained several addresses with the partner role VN in the external procurement relationship, for example, the system creates an action for each address that has a corresponding partner role. You can also assign different mediums to the addresses. If you do so, the system can output a confirmation several times, that is to different addresses using different mediums.

If you have not maintained a medium in the external procurement relationship, the system uses the medium that has been selected as Default in Customizing.

The system uses the user parameters to determine the printer.

The system can only print SA releases if you have specified a printer in the user parameters. If you have not specified a printer, the system does not create an action for SA release output when the release is created.

You can use a Business Add-In PRINTER_DETERM_PPF to implement further printer determination processes.

Partner-Dependent

If you have not maintained an address in the external procurement relationship, you can set this indicator; the system then uses the address number of the location.

Changeable in the Dialog

This indicator does not have any effect on SA release output. You cannot change the data for the action (for SA release output).

Determination Technique

Choose Determination for SA Releases.

Action Merging

The settings for Action Merging are not taken into account in the SA release output process.

If an action is generated for SA release output at the time of release creation despite the fact that an unprocessed action exists, then the existing unprocessed action for release output (representing the non-outputted SA release) is replaced by the new generated action.

Output Medium

You can use the following media to output SA releases:

●      XML (IDoc DELFOR02)

●      Fax (PPF/Smart Forms)

●      Mail (PPF/Smart Forms)

●      Printout (PPF/Smart Forms)

You can make the following settings for the media fax, mail and print by choosing  Configure Processing:

	Previous Print Form	New Print Form (based on VDA recommendation 4904)
Name of Form	/SAPAPO/SF_SARELEASE_TEMPLATE	/SAPAPO/SF_SARELEASE_LANDSCAPE
Processing Class	/SAPAPO/CL_SF_PROC_SARELEASE	/SAPAPO/CL_SF_PROC_SARELEASE
Processing Method	EXEC_SMART_FORM_SAR	EXEC_SMART_FORM_SAR_QUER

 

The print form /SAPAPO/SF_SARELEASE_LANDSCAPE corresponds to the German auto industry standard and, in comparison with the previous form, contains additional information (such as "last deliveries").

It is essentially based on VDA recommendation 4904 and is in landscape format. The form can be used for outputting SA releases in hardcopy form, or as fax or mail messages.

Please note that the Smart Form is only a template that you should adjust according to your needs. When creating your own forms you have to copy the interface from the template.

 

Result

You can output releases against APO scheduling agreements with the function Output SA releases.

For more information, see Outputting Scheduling Agreement Releases.